Arthur Brooks on the Happiness Plan for the Second Half of Life

When we imagine a happy and successful life, the portrait that’s often painted before us includes someone who is dynamic, engaged and achieves success upon success. And yet, in a time like today when lifespans continue to lengthen, there’s a whole period to life that goes beyond our peak performance days, far from the limelight we once had, unnoticed and forgotten.

What then is the definition of success and happiness in this second half of life? Do people get happier or unhappier as they age? What happens when our professional decline sets in earlier than expected, and what self-correcting mechanisms can we put in place to avoid its negative consequences? Does happiness take care of itself or is there a formula we can use to maximize our flourishing, in not just the second half, but in every chapter of our lives?

Listen to some ...